photo credit: Heikki Wichmann // Shutterstock
Tekashi69 is one of the high-profile people requesting to be released from prison due to the coronavirus, claiming he is high-risk due to having asthma, which sent him to the hospital back in 2017. One of the defendants, Kintea “Kooda B” McKenzie, in his case was recently granted bond until his sentencing in June due to him having asthma.
On March 22, Tekashi’s attorney Lance Lazzaro asked Judge Engelmayer allow 6ix9ine to serve out the remainder of his sentence on home confinement. In the letter to the court, obtained by Complex, the attorney wrote, “Mr. Hernandez has been complaining to prison officials this week of shortness of breath, but apparently the warden of his facility will not allow Mr. Hernandez to go to the hospital despite the recommendation of the facility’s medial [sic] director that Mr. Hernandez be treated by a doctor at a hospital.”
The decision has been passed around but ultimately, the Bureau of Prisons denied the release.
On Wednesday, Judge Engelmayer allowed the government one last chance to argue why Tekashi should remain beind bars and they have until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday to do so. In return, the government said they would not stand in the way of Tekashi getting out and Judge Engelmayer plans to let Tekashi serve the rest of his time at home.
Judge Engelmayer initally stated during the process, “had the Court known that sentencing Mr. Hernandez to serve the final four months of his term in a federal prison would have exposed him to a heightened health risk, the Court would have directed that these four months be served instead in home confinement.”
On Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman wrote, “[I]n the event the Court finds ‘extraordinary and compelling reasons’ presented by the defendant’s medical condition, placing him at high risk during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Government does not oppose the defendant’s motion for compassionate release.”
Home incarceration would mean 24-hour-a-day lockdown at his house except for medical necessities and legal activities.
Tekashi’s original released date was August 2nd, but is now being projected to be July 31st according to Complex.
Source: Complex